just a book reader reading books

Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday asks – Do you think any current author is of the same caliber as Dickens, Austen, Bronte, or any of the classic authors? If so, who, and why do you think so? If not, why not? What books from this era might be read 100 years from now?

This one today requires too much thinking for me this early in the morning. So here’s how I’m answering — I’m going to talk about a few of my favorites and if I think they’ll be around 100 years from now. Yes, I’m going to cheat and that’s twice this week with memes but at least I’m telling you up front.

Some of my favorite books:

(Not a complete list by any means but what I can come up with quickly and usually my go to books when I need a comfort read.)

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

The Lord of the Rings by JR Tolkien

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Do I think any of these books will still be read 100 years from now?

Some, yes. Others, no. JK Rowling maybe. The books are a phenomenon regardless of whether you like them or not and I think because of that they will be around for a while. I don’t know if Gabaldon and Niffenegger will be though. I love their books but who am I to say they will turn into classics.

Looking over my list, these books are about love, heartbreak, life, death, family, friends, understanding, and the challenges and torments of life. I think a unique take on everyday life is what makes a book a classic and the ones that do it best are the ones we find ourselves reading over and over. Maybe it shouldn’t be about who wrote the books but what they are about.